The space that formerly held Bijan's Sea and Grille, 209 E. Walnut St., is now available for lease.
The property is listed with Murney & Associates Realtors for $10.58 a square foot and as a triple net lease, meaning the lessee pays rent, taxes, insurance and maintenance.
The former restaurant operators Barry Kackley and Jeremy Reed could not be reached for comment.
Kackley and Reed were managers at the 14-year-old restaurant before purchasing it from the Jalili family - Mike, Billy and Sara Jalili - in March 2008. The Jalilis, however, retained ownership of the building, according to
Springfield Business Journal coverage.
Mike Jalili spoke with SBJ in late July; he said he first heard the restaurant had closed early that month. A sign was left on the door that stated it had closed due to plumbing issues.
But Jalili said he guessed the economy was a big part of it.
Although he said the space will likely go in a different direction than a Bijan's-style restaurant, Jalili had hoped the restaurant would continue to be a place for social and business gatherings.
"Obviously, that was our baby when we originally started it," he said. "It was hard to see it fail. But it is what it is."
The Jalili family owns Touch Restaurant at 1620 E. Republic Road and Flame Steakhouse at 314 W. Walnut St.
SBJ was housed in the former Bijan's space 1985-1996.[[In-content Ad]]
